Management
Larry Dokkestul, President and CEO, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ag Education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Dokkestul joined Pierce Pepin in March 2000, managing member services and the appliance division. He is also the President and CEO of Pierce Pepin Propane Services. He brought to Pierce Pepin 18 years of experience with farm supply cooperatives.
Diana Gilbertson, Executive Assistant/Human Resources Administrator, graduated from Red Wing Technical College in 1990 and received her PHR (professional in Human Resources) certification in 2005. Gilbertson joined Pierce Pepin in 2001. Prior to that, she was employed with RAM Center, Inc., in Red Wing, MN for 10 years where she held the positions of administrative assistant, technical support and administrative supervisor. She also worked for McMillan Electric in Woodville, WI, as Executive Administrator to the CEO.
Bradley E. Ristow, Electric Operations Manager, is a 1987 graduate of Dakota County Technical College with a degree in Electrical Power Distribution. Ristow joined Pierce Pepin in 1991 as a 3rd year apprentice lineman and became a journeyman in 1992. He was promoted to Electric Operations Manager in 2011. He has assisted with the journeyman testing at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Ristow is also on the Wisconsin Statewide Safety Manual committee and a member of the Village of Ellsworth Plan Commission.
Brent L. Metcalf, Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, is a 1983 graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. Metcalf joined Pierce Pepin in April 2000 after 17 years as a Certified Public Accountant. His experience includes 11 years of consulting and auditing for cooperative and municipal utilities throughout the Midwest. Metcalf’s responsibilities include accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and finance. He has served on boards and as an officer of several community service organizations.
Christopher P. Tackmann, Marketing and Administration Manager, holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Tackmann joined Pierce Pepin in 2002 as an intern and was hired full-time in 2003 after graduation. His responsibilities include marketing/communications, office administration, billing/accounts receivable, information technology and the appliance division.
Jeffrey S. Olson, Vice President, Engineering & Member Services, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering technology and a Master of Science in computer information systems. Olson joined Pierce Pepin in 1990. He is responsible for Pierce Pepin’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure system, distributed generation, 3-phase metering, Distribution Automation and physical security. He serves as project manager for many of the cooperative’s research and development initiatives, such as the fuel cell and mobile data projects, and investigates power quality and stray voltage issues. Olson serves on several industry boards, member advisory committees and county subcommittees.
